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NEW YORK, NY (Sept. 9, 2018)– Las VegasAces forward A’ja Wilson has been unanimously selected the 2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She received all 39 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Wilson averaged rookie highs of 20.7 points (tied for third in the WNBA), 8.0 rebounds (sixth) and 1.67 blocked shots (sixth) while starting every game that the Aces played in their inaugural season in Las Vegas. She became the second rookie in WNBA history to average at least 20.0 points per game, joining Seimone Augustus (21.9 ppg in 2006).

The 6-4 Wilson shot a rookie-best 46.2 percent from the field and made 77.4 percent from the free throw line. She also set WNBA rookie records for free throws made (192) and attempted (248) in a season.

A 2018 WNBA All-Star selection, Wilson swept all three WNBA Rookie of the Month awards this season. She was also named the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for July 2-8. Behind Wilson, the Aces (14-20) improved their record by six games from the 2017 season.

Wilson scored in double figures in every appearance. She recorded 30 or more points three times, highlighted by a career-high 35 points against the Indiana Fever on June 12. She also registered 10 point-rebound double-doubles, including 25 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to go with six assists against the Seattle Storm on June 19.

The Aces selected Wilson with the No. 1 overall pick of WNBA Draft 2018 presented by State Farm after her standout career at the University of South Carolina, where she was a four-time All-America selection, three-time SEC Player of the Year and the 2017-18 consensus National Player of the Year.

Wilson follows former college teammate Allisha Gray of the Dallas Wings as the second consecutive South Carolina alum to win WNBA Rookie of the Year.

In honor of being named the 2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Wilson will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.

WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Season	Player	Team
2018	A’ja Wilson	Las Vegas Aces
2017	Allisha Gray	Dallas Wings
2016	Breanna Stewart	Seattle Storm
2015	Jewell Loyd	Seattle Storm
2014	Chiney Ogwumike	Connecticut Sun
2013	Elene Delle Donne	Chicago Sky
2012	Nneka Ogwuike	Los Angeles Sparks
2011	Maya Moore	Minnesota Lynx
2010	Tina Charles	Connecticut Sun
2009	Angel McCoughtry	Atlanta Dream
2008	Candace Parker	Los Angeles Sparks
2007	Armintie Price	Chicago Sky
2006	Seimone Augustus	Minnesota Lynx
2005	Temeka Johnson	Washington Mystics
2004	Diana Taurasi	Phoenix Mercury
2003	Cheryl Ford	Detroit Shock
2002	Tamika Catchings	Indiana Fever
2001	Jackie Stiles	Portland Fire
2000	Betty Lennox	Minnesota Lynx
1999	Chamique Holdsclaw	Washington Mystics
1998	Tracy Reid	Charlotte Sting

Wilson was also a unanimous selection to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. The 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team also features Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins, Chicago Sky guard Diamond DeShields, Dallas Wings forward/center Azurá Stevens and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell.

Wilson, Atkins and DeShields earned the maximum 11 votes from a panel of the WNBA’s 12 head coaches, who each selected five players regardless of position and were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Stevens received eight votes and Mitchell seven votes.

A’ja Wilson	Las Vegas Aces	11 votes
Ariel Atkins	Washington Mystics	11 votes
Diamond DeShields	Chicago Sky	11 votes
Azura Stevens	Dallas Wings	8 votes
Kelsey Mitchell	Indiana Fever	7 votes

About the WNBA

The WNBA – which features 12 teams and is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world – is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. The league, which counts Verizon as its league-wide marquee partner, began its 22^ndplayoffs on Aug. 21, 2018.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information about the WNBA, visit WNBA.com.

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